Apparatus for generating, controlling, and applying hydraulic pressure.



J|'W| NELSON.

\GONTROLLING, AND APPLYING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12. 190a.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING,

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

INVENTOR W MW m J. w. NELSON. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING, CONTROLLING, AND APPLYING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1908. 914;, 1 70, Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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WITNESSES l/VVENTOI? YHE NORRIS PETERS CO, WASHINGTON, 1:v C.

, J. w. NELSON. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING, CONTROLLING, AND APPLYING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.

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914,17 Patented M21112, 1909. 3 EEEEEEEEEEEE 3.

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JAMES W. NELSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING, CONTROLLING, AND APPLYING HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed March 12, 1908. Serial No. 420,534.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Generating, Controlling, and A plying Hydraulic Pressure, of which the f0 lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to ap aratus for generating and applying hydrau ic pressure, with particular reference to devices of exceedingly high power, yet provided with means for rendering available any one of a number of variable lesser pressures, and in which the pressure generating devices are separate from the applying and controlling devices, with flexible connecting conduits therebetween, whereby the apparatus is ada ted for use under conditions which won d render impracticable, if not impossible, the employment of completely self-contained hydraulic jacks.

It is often desirable and sometimes necessary to divide the applied pressure between two or more separate points, as, for instance, under conditions where it will be impracticable or impossible to locate a jack directly underneath the load to be supported or raised. Furthermore, the employment of two or more rams, each acting upon a member common to all thereof, which mem ber directly receives the weight of the load, will multiply the useful pressure which would be applied by one ram alone by the number of rams employed. It is well known that under the principles of hydrostatics the generated pressure is increased in proportion to the ratio between the areas of the ram and the piston. If the pump is separate from the ram, it will be apparent that when two rams are employed, each suitably connected to the pump, the pressure is not divided, but is multiplied, the area against which pressure is exerted having been increased without increasing the area of the plunger which is operated to generate the pressure.

It is of course essential, under any ordinary conditions which render desirable the employment of two or more rams that the pressures exerted by these rams be equal, otherwise if the pressure of these rams were exerted against the common member which directly received the weight of the load, one end or part of such member would be raised more rapidly than the other. Therefore, where one or more pressure generating devices are employed, if the generated pressure is to be applied at a plurality of separate points, it 1s obviously necessary that the pressure applying devices be provided with a common source of supply of the liquid under pressure, in order to equalize the applied pressures.

In addition to providing a device for the generation and application of exceedingly high pressures, the present invention'contemplates a device which, while employing the usual type of reciprocating plungers to generate the pressure, will make such generation continuous and uniform instead of intermittent. Such continuous generation and application of pressure is not infrequently desired, and it will be apparent that where reciprocating plungers are employed at least three plungers, or three series of pistons the pistons in each series being actuated by the same reciprocating rod, will be necessary. If the pumps are power-driven, as is more particularly contemplated in the present invention, they may be coupled to a main driving shaft by cranks e uidistantly spaced apart on said shaft wit reference to the circumference thereofthat is, separated by arcs of 120. In this man ner, not only will there at all times be a piston-rod which is being actuated on its downward and useful stroke, but the rela-.

tion of parts is such that with the conduits from the pumps uniting in a common pressure distributing chamber, the generation and application of pressure will be substantially continuously uniform.

The present invention further contemplates the employment, in connection with a plurality of separate pumps and a plurality of separate pressure applying devices, a member interposed between said pumps and said applying devices, and located in proximity to the latter, whereby the operator stationed at such member may note the progress and effect of the work, in which member the conduits from the pumps unite to equalize the applied pressures and which member is provided with means for the con trol of the pumping operations, whereby one or more of said pumps may be rendered effectively inoperative to reduce the total generated pressure without ceasing the pumping operations, and with means for finally relieving the applied pressures when it is desired to remove or readjust the apparatus.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a complete apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the separate controlling member; Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the lower part of the cylinder shown in Fig. 2;

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numerals 11, 12, 13 refer to hydraulic pumps which for the purpose of this description are shown as of the multiple plunger type. These pumps need not necessarily be of the same size or capacity, as it will be apparent that a wider range of degrees of pressure which may be generated and applied may be secured through the employment of pumps of different sizes and capacities. Where a continuously uniform generation of pressure is desired, however, and under any ordinary conditions, these pumps may be as shown, substantially identical.

The pump-block of the pump 11 is provided with a central pump-bore comprising an upper portion 14 of relatively larger diameter and a lower portion 15 of relatively smaller diameter. Extending into this pump bore is the piston-rod 16 carrying the piston 17 fitting and adapted to reciprocate in the portion 14 of the pump bore. An extension 18 of the piston-rod projects from the piston 17 and has mounted on the end thereof the piston 19 fitting and adapted to reciprocate in the portion 15 of the said pump-bore. The piston-rod 16 may be reciprocated by means of the usual manually-operated pump-lever, but for the purposes of this description, and in order to avail myself of all of the advantages of the ty e of apparatus which 1 am about to descri e, I prefer to provide a suitably journaled rotating shaft 20, driven by a pulley 21 from any convenient source of power, and provided with the double-crank 22, interposed between which and the end of the piston-rod 16 is the connecting link 23.

This shaft 20 is common to all of the pumps, the piston-rod 24 of the pump 12 being similarly connected to the crank 25 by means of the link 26, and the piston-rod 27 of the pump 13 being similarly connected to the crank 28 by means of the link 29. These cranks 22, 25 and. 23 are equidistantly disposed with reference to the circumference of the shaft 20, said cranks being therefore circumferentially separated by arcs of 120. It Will be seen that such construction and relative location insures at all times a downward stroke of some one of the three pistonrods and, therefore, a continuous delivery of liquid nder pressure to the common pres sure distributing chamber hereinafter described. It is understood, of course, that the pumps 12 and 13 are provided with pump-bores of varying diameters corresponding with the one described in connection with the pump 11 and similarly contain two pistons reciprocating in each of said bores.

In the pump 11, a lateral duct 30 is provided leading from the bottom of the larger portion 14 of the pump-bore below the piston 17 to and through the coupling 31 which is suitably secured to the pump-block and to the end of the preferably flexible pipe 32. A similar duct 33 leads from the bottom of the smaller portion 15 of the pump-bore to and through the coupling 34 at the end of the pipe 35, which coupling is similarly secured to the pump block 11 and connects said pipe 35 thereto. In the puma 12, a duct corresponding to the duct 30 eads to and through the coupling 36 which connects the end of the pipe 37 to said pump-block, and with a duct which corresponds to the duct 33 leading to and through the coupling 38 to the pipe 39. Corresponding ducts are provided in the pump block 13, the upper leading to and through the coupling 40 at the end of the pipe 41 and the lower leading to and throiisgh the coupling 42 at the end of the pipe 43.

The pump and pressure valves and the means for their control are provided in a separate member 44, which is preferably of substantially cylindrical shape and mounted upon a heavy base or standard 45 which insures the body or member 44 being held during operations in a substantially vertical position. The lower end of the member 44 is provided with a central bore 46, and the other end thereof with thr e relatively smaller bores extending from the top of said body to the upper end of the bore 46. "'lhese three smaller bores are identical in size, shape and relative location. Referring first to one thereof, it will be seen that the same is of varying diameters, the portion 47 thereof, which leads into the bore 46, being of smallest diameter, the diameter being increased at 43 to provide seat for the valve 49, which is downwardly seating and which is provided with a stem 50 which projects down wardly and extends into the bore 46. At 51, the portion 52 of said bore is again increased in diameter to provide a seat for the valve 53, -which has a downwardly rojecting stem 54 extending nearly but unc er normal conditions not quite to the valve 49. In order that this bore shall not be increased in diameter beyond practical limits, I again reduce the effective diameter thereof by placing within the ortion of said bore the removable cylindrical plug 56, the top of which provides a seat for the valve 57 which has a downwardly projecting stem 58 extending nearly but under normal conditions not quite'to the valve The top of said bore is closed and sealed by means of the screw-plug 59 which provides a chamber 60 above the valve 57 in which a spring 61 is in compression to yieldingly scat said valve.

The other valve-bore shown in Fig. comprises the corresponding lower and smaller portion 02 which 03 is increased in diameter to provide a seat tor the valve 04 which has a stem 65 projecting downwardly and extending into a bore 'ihe portion 66 of said bore, thus increased in diameter, is at 67 again increased in diameter to provide a seat for the valve 68 which has a downwardlyprojecting stem 69 exten ding nearly but under normal conditions not quite to the valve The portion 70 of said bore, thus again increased in diameter, is correspondingly pro vided with the movable cylindrical plug 71, the top of which provides a seat for the valve 72 which has a downwardly-proieeting stem 7 3 extending nearly but under normal conditions not quite to the valve 38. The upper end of this here is similarly closed and sealed by means of the screw-plug 74 which provides the chamber 75 above the valve 72, and in said chamber is correspondingly placed a spring 7 6 tending to seat said valve.

The third valve-bore is located as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. This bore, being identical in all respects to the two valvebores just described and containing an equal number and Silllitl arrangement of valves, is not shown in the drawings other than as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. T ii third valve-bore is similarly closed and sealed at its upper end to provide the chamber 77, the chambers 60 and 7 5 being open to each other through the duct 78 w'iioh is, in turn, open to the chamber 77 through the duct 79. It will thus be seen that the pressures in the chambers 00, 75 and 77 are at all times equal.

The pipe 32 fro n the upper and larger pump-chamber in the pump 11, leads through a suitable coupling to the duct 80 in the radially disposed arm 81, which duct communicates with the portion 52 of one of the valve-bores, between the valves 49 and 53. The pipe 35 from the lower and smaller pump-chamber in the pump 11 leads to the duct 82 in the correspondingly located arm 83 above the arm 81, which duct 82 leads to the portion 55 of said valve-bore between the valves 53 and 57.

The pipe 37 from the upper and larger pump-chamber in the pump 12, leads to the duct 84 in the arm 85, which duct 84 is open to the portion 66 of the second valve-bore between the valves 04 and 68. The pipe 39 from the lower and smaller pump chamber in the pump 12, leads to the duct 86 in the arm 87 above the arm 85, said duct 86 leading to the portion 70 of said valve-bore above the valve 68 and below the valve 72. Similarly, the pipe 43 from the lower and smaller pumpchamber. in the pump 13, leads to the duct 88 in the arm 89, said duct 88 being open in a precisely similar manner to the third valvebore between the highest and the intermediate valves in said bore. The pipe 41 from the upper and larger pump-chamber in the 512, leads to a duct in a corresponding located below the arm 89, said duct being open to the third valve-bore between the lowest and the intermediate valves in said bore.

From t 1e chamber 60 at the top of the first-described valve-bore, leads a duct 90 through an arm 91 to which is secured the coupling at the end of the pipe 93, and from the chamber 75 at the top of the second valve-bore leads the duct 94 to and through th arm 95 upon which is secured the coupling-96 at the end of the pipe 97. The latter leads through the coupling 98 and the duct 99 in the ram-cylinder 100 to the pressure chamber 101 below the ram 102. The pipe 93 leads through the coupling 103 and a duct which corresponds to the duct 99, to the pres sure chamber in the rarn-cylinder 104 below the ram 105.

Fitting and adapted to reciprocate in the bore 46 of the member 44-, is the push tube 106, the lower end of which is preferably provided with the inturned flange 10. between which and the top of said bore a spring 108 is in compression to yieldingly force said tube 106 to its lowermost position. The body 44 is provided with a lateral bore leading to the b ottem oi' the bore 46, said lateral bore being intcriorly screw-threaded for the reception of the screw plug 1.08 in. which is journaled the shaft 109. ,unted on the inner end of this shaft, and in ceo 'ierative positional relation to the bottom of the tube 106 is the cam 1 .10. I prefer to prev the outer end of the shaft 10 with a head 1.11 to which maybe suitably secured the end of the opera g lever 112 by shaft 109 may be rotated. The

which ti o earn 110 is of such configuration and so mounted that under normal conditions the tube 106 resting thereagainst is noninterferent witl'i auton'iatic operations of any of the lower valves in the three valveboresthat is to say, the top of said tube does not contact with the lower end of any one of the lower valve-stuns. Upon rotation of said shaft 109, however, by means of the lever 112, said cam 110 will operate to raise the tube 106 against the action ol the spring 103 and cause the top of said tube to impinge against the stem 65 of the valve 64 and positively hold the latter off its seat without, howevr, interfering with automatic operation. of either of the two remaining lower 130 valves in the other valve-bores. Further upward movement of said tube 106, as rotation of said shaft 109 is continued, will, owing to the slight difference in the length of the valve stems, next unseat and hold off its seat in a similar manner the valve 49; neXt, in a similar manner, the lowermost valve in the third valve-bore. Continued upward movement of said tube 106, will next cause the unseated lower valves to successively impinge against the lower ends of the stems of the valves next above the same and unseat these three intermediate valves in correspondingly consecutive order. Still further continued upward movement of said tube 106, will next, in correspondingly consecutive order, unseat the three upper valves in the valve-bores and thus open and hold open passages from the chambers 60, 75 and 77 to the bore 46. From this bore 46 leads a lateral duct 113 to and through the nipple 114 which is provided for the reception of the preferably rubber or other flexible hose or pipe 115 which leads to any suitable or convenient source of liquid supply. This source of supply may be in the form of a tank or barrel, possibly su'lficiently elevated that the force of gravity will tend to assist the pumps in drawing the liquid therefrom, and, under any circumstances, said source of supply is always in open communi cation with the bore 46 in the member 44, the aperture 116 .at the bottom of the push-tube 106 permitting the flow upwardly through said bore 46 to the three valve-bores.

It will now be apparent that under normal conditions, with the various parts in the positions indicated in the drawings, and referring first to operations of the pump 11, upon the up-stroke of the pistons in said pump, partial vacuums will be created in the chambers 14 and 15 belowsaid pistons. lhe unequal pressures thus created will cause the valves 49 and 53 to be unseated and a flow of liquid directed from the source of supply to the bore 46 and thence upwardly through the portion 47 of the valve-bore past the valve 49, where it is divided, a part thereof flowing through the duct 80 and filling the chamber 14 below the upper piston in the pump 11, and a part continuing upwardly through the portion 52 of said bore, past the valve 53, and thence through the duct 82 and the pipe 35 to the chamber 15 below the smaller piston in said pump. Upon the downstroke of said pistons, the valve 49 will be seated under excess of pressure above the same, and the liquid from both pump chambers will be directed upwardly through the portion 55 of the valve bore, past the valve 57, which is unseated, and into the chamber at the upper end of said bore. As has been explained, this cham ber 60 is open to the chamber 75 through the duct 78, and, therefore, the pressure gener ated by the pump 11 will be equally distributed between the two ram-chambers through the conduits 93 and 97.

In a precisely similar manner, the partial vacuums resulting from the up-stroke of the pistons in the pump 12 will cause unequal pressures which will result in the unseating of the valves 64 and 68 and a flow of liquid from said source of supply through the ducts 84 and 86 and the pipes 37 and 39 to said pump-chambers. The down-stroke of said pistons will seat the valve 64 and direct the li uid in a similar manner past the valve 72 an into the chamber 75, from whence its application is similarly equalized between the two or more pressure applying devices. Similarly, upstroke of the pistons in the pump 13 will fill the pump-chambers from the source of sup ply, and the down-stroke of said pistons will in an identical manner direct the flow from said pump to the chamber 77 at the top of the third valve-bore, from whence the liquid is directed through the ducts 75 and 78 to the chambers 60 and 75 and thence to the ultimate pressure chambers.

With all of the pumps effectively operating, it will be apparent that a maximum volume of liquid will be forced to the ram-chambers, as is desirable in order to rapidly raise the rams to the point where they receive the full weight of the load. Whenever it becomes desirable to sacrifice speed for power, as may be done by decreasing the area of the surfaces through which the power is applied, the lever 112 may be turned suificiently to rotate the cam 110 through an arc suflicient to raise the tube 106 to the point where the latter has unseated the lowest valve in each of the three valve bores, in the manner hereinbefore described, without interfering with automatic action of any of the remaining valves. Referring first to the effect of this operation upon the pump 11, it will now be apparent that with the valve 49 held off its seat, an open passage is provided between the pump-chamber underneath the larger piston in said pump and the source of supply. Therefore, upon the down-stroke of the pistons the liquid under the pressure of the larger piston, instead of being directed upwardly past the valves 53 and 57, will follow the path of least resistance and return past the unseated valve 49, through the chamber 46, and back to the source of supply. Similarly, with the valve 64 unseated, an open passage has been provided from the pump-chamber underneath the larger piston in the pump 12 to the source of supply, and upon the down-stroke of the pistons in said pump the liquid in said larger pump-chamber will, instead of being upwardly directed past the valves 68 and 72, follow the path of least resistance and return in a similar manner to the source of supply. Similarly, with the lowest valve in the third valve-bore unseated the larger piston in the ump 13 has been rendered inoperative, and it will therefore be apparent that the smaller pistons alone in all of the three pumps are effectively operative and the generated pressure materially increased under the principles of hydrostatics, with such generation still continuous and uniform.

While it is not conceived that any ordinary conditions could render desirable the successive unseating of the lower valves in the valve-bores, it will nevertheless be seen that should it be desired for any purpose to render effectively inoperative the larger piston in any one of the pumps alone, this may be done by turning the lever 112 through an arc sufficient to operate through the cam 1 10 to unseat the valve 64 without interfering with automatic action of any of the remaining lower valves. In this manner, the larger piston in the pump 12 has alone been rendered inoperative, and the larger piston in the pump 11 may also be rendered inoperative by continuing rotating of said lever to the point where the valve 49 is unseated without interfering with automatic action of the lower valve in the thirdvalve-bore.

The lengths of the valve stems 54 and 69 and the corresponding valve-stem in the third valve bore, are so proportioned that continued upward movement of the tube 106, after the lowest valves have been unseated, will first unseat the valve 68, next the valve 53, and next the intermediate valve in the third valve-bore. In this manner, in addition to the larger pistons in the three pumps, the smaller pistons therein may be successively rendered effectively inoperative, where by the speed with which the rams are being raised may be reduced until all of the pumps are rendered inoperative, although the pressure in the ram chambers remains the same. Finally, a continuance of the upward movement of the tube 106 will next operate through the stem 73 to unseat the valve 7 2; next, through the stem 58, unseat the valve 57, and, last, in a similar manner, unseat the highest valve in the third valve-bore. This last operation is designed to effect the relief of the pressures within the ram chambers, when it is desired to lower the rams for the removal or the readjustment of the devices. It will be apparent that with the tremendous pressures which will be generated within the ram chambers the final pressure valves are obviously unseated with considerable difficulty. It will be appreciated that one of these three valves may be unseated with less effort than two or three thereof, and for this purpose the stems of the uppermost valves are correspondingly proportioned in length, whereby one of said valves only is first unseated. The instant one of said valves is raised even the slightest extent off its seat, the pressures on both sides thereof become equalized and it may be further unseated without difficulty. Once the excessive pressures in the ram chamber is relieved, the remaining valves may be easily unseated for the purpose of hastening the operation of lowering through the provision of a plurality of passages back to the source of supply.

Many modifications of minor details of my improved apparatus for generating, controlling and applying hydraulic pressure will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention to the specific construction herein shown and described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a plurality of at least three separate mechanisms for generating hydraulic pressure, each thereof comprising a plurality of pressure generating means, means for applying the generated pressure, and means for rendering effectively inoperative one pressure generator in each of said mechanisms, said means being further operable to render effectively inoperative more than one generator in each of said mechanisms.

2. In combination, a plurality of at least three separate mechanisms for generating hydraulic pressure, each thereof comprising a plurality of pressure generating means, means for applying the generated pressure, and means for rendering effectively inoperative one pressure generator in each of said mechanisms, said means being further operable to render effectively inoperative all of the pressure generating means.

3. In combination, a plurality of at least three separate mechanisms for generating hydraulic pressure, each thereof comprising a plurality of pressure generating means, means for applying the generated pressures, and means for rendering effectively inoperative one pressure generator in each of said mechanisms, said means being further operable to render effectively inoperative all of the pressure generating means and finally to relieve the applied pressures.

4. In combination, a plurality of at least three separate mechanisms for generating hydraulic pressure, each thereof comprising a plurality of individually operative pressure generating means, a ressure-distributing chamber common to al of said generating means, means for actuating said mechanisms to continuously force liquid into said chamber, and means for varying the gen erated pressure and for rendering said gen erating mechanisms inoperative.

5. In combination, a plurality of at least three separate mechanisms for generating hydraulic pressure, each thereof comprising a plurality of individually operative pressure generating means, a pressure-distributing chamber common to al of said generating means, means for actuating said mechanisms to continuously force liquid into said chamber, and means for varying the gen erated pressure, for rendering all of said generating mechanisms inoperative, and for relieving the applied pressure.

6. In combination, a plurality of at least three separate mechanisms for generating hydraulic pressure, each thereof comprising a plurality of individually operative pressure generating means, a ressure-distributing chamber common to a of said generating means, means for actuating said mechanisms to continuously force liquid into said 8. In combination, a plurality of at leastthree multiple-plunger pumps, a common pressure-distributing chamber and means for directing the flow from all of the pump chambers thereto, means for ac uating said pumps to continuously force liquid to said chamber, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering inefl'ective the operations of one or more of the plungers in said pumps.

9. In combination, a plurality of at least three multiple-plunger pumps, a common pressure-distributing chamber and means for directing the floW from all of the pump chambers thereto, means for actuating said pumps to continuously force liquid to said chamber, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering effectively inoperative one or more of the plungers and one or more of said pumps.

10. In combination, a plurality of at least three multiple-plunger pumps, a common pressure-distributing chamber and means for directing the flow from all of the pump chambers thereto, means for actuating said pumps to continuously force liquid to said chamber, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering effectively inoperative one or more of the plungers in each pump and one or more of said pumps.

11. In combination, a plurality of at least three multiple-plunger pumps having common actuating means and operating with successively effective strokes to continuously force liquid into a common pressuredistributing chamber, means separate there from for applying the generated pressure, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering ineffective the operations of one or more of said plungers.

12. In combination, a plurality of at least three multiple-plunger pumps having commonactuating means and operating with successively effective strokes to continuously force liquid to a common pressure-distributing chamber, means separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering ineffective one or more of the plungers and one or more of said pumps.

13. In combination, a plurality of at least three multiple-plunger pumps having common actuating means and operating with successively effective strokes to continuously force liquid to a common pressure-distribut ing chamber, means separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering ineffective one or more of the plungers in each pump and one or more of said pumps.

14E. In combination, a plurality of at least three multiple-plunger pumps having common actuating means and operating With successively efl'ective strokes to continuously force liquid to a common pressuradistributing chamber, means separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, and means common to all of said pumps for rendering inefl'ective the operations of one or more of said plungers and for finally relieving the applied pressures.

15. In combination, a plurality of at least three 1m dtiple-plunger pumps having common actuating means and operating With successivcly effective strokes to continuously force liquid to a common pressure distributing chamber, means separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, and meansfor consecutively rendering eflectively inoperative the plungers in all of said pumps and for finally relieving the applied pressure.

16. In combination, a plurality of at least three successively-operating multiple-plunger pumps, a device separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, a flexible conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying device, said conduits uniting in a member which is provided With means for rendering the plungers eilectively inoperative in consecutive alternation.

17. In combination, a plurality of at least three successively-operating multiple-plunger pumps, a device separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, a flexible conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying device, said conduits uniting in a three successively-opcrating multiple-plunger pumps, a device separate therelmm for applying the generated pressrre, a flexible conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying device, said conduits uniting in a member Which is provided with means for rendering effectively inoperative one or more of the plungers in each pump and one or more of said pumps.

19. ln combination, a plurality of at least three successively-operating multiple-plunger pumps, a device separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, a flexible conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying device, said conduits uniting in a member which is provided vith means for rendering ctl'ectively inoperative one plunger in each of said pumps, said means being further operable to render eliectively inoperative more than one plunger in each of said pumps.

20. in combination, a pluralit of at least three successively-opcrating multiple-plunpumps, a device separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, a flexible conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying device, said conduits uniting in a member Which is provided With means for rendering eli'ectively inoperative one plunger in each of said pumps, said means being "urther operable to render all of said pumps ei'l'ectivel r inoperative.

21. In combination, a plurality of at least three successively-operating 1miltiple-plun ger pumps, a device separate therefrom for applying the generated pressure, a flexible conduit from each pumpwhambcr and to said applying device, said conduits uniting in a member Which is provided vvitn. means for rendering effectively inoperative one plunger in each of said pumps, for rendering all of said pumps inoperative, and tor finally relieving the applied pressures.

22. in combination, a plurality of at least three successively operative multiple-plun ger pumps, means for applying the generated pressure, a suitable conduit from each pumpchamber and to said applying means, the conduits from the pump-chambers in each pump uniting in a common passage and said passages uniting in a common pressure-distributing chamber, suitable pump and pressure valves in said passages, and means for controlling said valves to render one plunger in each of said pumps inoperative.

23. in combination, a plurality of at least three successively operative multiple-plunger pumps, means for applying the generated pressures, a suitable conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying means, the conduits from the pump-chambers in each pump uniting in a common p assage and said passage uniting in a common pressuredistributing chamber, suitable pump and pressure valves in said passages, and means for controlling said valves to render one plunger in each of said pumps inoperative, said means being further operable to render more than one plunger in each pump inoperative.

24. In combination, a plurality of at least three successively operative multiple-plunger pumps, means for applying the generated pressures, a suitable conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying means, the conduits from the pump-chambers in each pump uniting in a common passage and said passages uniting in a common pressure distributing chamber, suitable pump and pressure valves in said passages, and means for controlling said valves to render one plunger in each of said pumps inoperative, to render all plungers inoperative, and to relieve the applied pressures.

25. in combination, a plurality of at least three successively operative multiple-plumger pumps, means for applying the generated pressures, at suitable conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying means, the conduits from the pump-chambers in each pump uniting in a common passage and said passages uniting in a common pressuredistributing chamber, suitable pump and pressure valves in said passages, and means common to all of said valves for unseating the same in consecutive alternation.

26. in combination, a plurality of at least three successively operative double-plunger pumps, means for applying the generated pressures, a suitable conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying means, the conduits from the pump-chambers in each pump uniting in a common passage and said passages uniting in a common pressuredistributing chamber, suitable pump and pressure valves in said passages, and means for controlling said valves to render one plunger in each of said pumps inoperative.

27 In combination, a plurality of at least three successively operative multiple-plunger pumps, means for applying the generated pressures, a suitable conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying means, the conduits from the pump-chambers in each pump uniting in a common passage and said passages uniting in a common pressuredistributing chamber, a series of valves for one pump in each of said passages, one checking back-flow from one pump-chamber, another checking back-ilow from the other pump-chamber and a third checking backflow from the pressure-distributing cham her, and means con'imon to the valves in all of said. assages for unseating corresponding valves in said series in consecutive order.

28. In combination, a plurality of at least three successively-operative multiple-plunger pumps, means for applying the generated pressures, a suitable conduit from each pump-chamber and to said applying means,

the conduits from the pump-chambers in floW from the pressure-distributing chamber, each pump uniting in a common passage and and means common to all of said valves to 10 said passages uniting in a common pi'essureunseat the same in alternate and consecutive distributing chamber, a series of valves for order.

one pump in each of said passages, one check- J AMES W. NELSON. ing back-flow from one pump-chamber, an- Vifitnesses: other checking back-flow from the other H. CRocKER,

pump-chamber and a third checking back- JAs. MOORE. 

